Sometimes discoveries occur where we least expect them...like Caprella tavolarensis, a new species of amphipod crustacena recently discovered by Nicolas Sturaro, researcher  at the Laboratoire d'Océanologie of the University of  Liege, Belgium. The discovery of this species occurred during his research project, the purpose of which was not to discover new species but to study the ecological role of protected zones in the Mediterranean Sea.

Populations of amphipod crustaceans gone over with a fine-tooth comb

"I am not a taxonomist", specifies immediately Nicolas Sturaro, FRIA doctoral student at the Laboratoire d'Océanologie of the University  of Liege in Belgium.  "I study the impact of marine protected areas on amphipod populations  associated with the Posidonia Oceanica seagrass in the Mediterranean Sea. These aquatic flowering plants are characterised by long leaves of 20 to 80 cm which can grow to up to a metre in height and are presented in groups of 4 to 8 leaves called shoots. A special feature that makes them a shelter of choice for numerous species of benthic invertebrates" (see also the article The vigils of the coastal environment).

As part of his research, Nicolas Sturaro is carrying out his sampling in zones subject to different protection regimes in Corsica and on the north-east coast of Sardinia at the Tavolara-Punta Coda Cavallo Marine Protected Area . Like all Italian marine protected areas, this area is divided into three zones:
     • one zone with total protection (A zone) where access and sampling are prohibited;
     • one zone with medium protection (B zone) where access is authorised but sampling is prohibited;
     • one zone where restrictions are even less strict (C zone);

Sampling is conducted, on the one hand, using an "airlift sampler" which, as its name suggests, sucks up all organisms in its path. On the other hand using light traps, cylinders pierced with slits, inside of which  a source diffuses light. At night, the light source attracts amphipods, which enter through the slits of the trap and cannot get out again. "It is during this sampling that we discovered Caprella tavolarensis (1) with the help of members of the Laboratoire d’Océanologie and also the Italian team including Dr. Augusto Navone and Dr Pier Panzalis, Director and Environment Manager of the Tavolara-Punta Coda Cavallo Marine Protected Area management Consortium of. "

(1) Sturaro N, Guerra-García JM (2011) A new species of Caprella (Crustacea: Amphipoda) from the Mediterranean Sea. Helgoland Marine Research DOI 10.1007/s10152-011-0244-5